| Potoroos[1] | |
|---|---|
| Potorous platyops | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Infraclass: | Marsupialia |
| Order: | Diprotodontia |
| Family: | Potoroidae |
| Subfamily: | Potoroinae |
| Genus: | Potorous Desmarest, 1804 |
| Type species | |
| Didelphis murina Cuvier, 1798 (=Didelphis tridactlya Kerr, 1792) |
|
| Species | |
The Potoroo is a kangaroo/rat like animal about the size of a rabbit. All three extant species are threatened, especially The long-footed Potoroo (Endangered) and Gilbert's potoroo (Critically Endangered). The main threats are predation by introduced species (especially foxes) and habitat loss. Potoroos were formerly very common, and early settlers report them being a significant pest of their crops.
Gilbert's Potoroo is Australia's most endangered animal. There are only 30–40 known left in the wild. It was discovered in 1840 by a naturalist called John Gilbert. It was then thought to have become extinct until being rediscovered in 1994 at the Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve (near Albany) in Western Australia.
A potoroo is any member of the genus Potorous.